SAN DIEGO – Strikeforce light heavyweight prospect Ovince St. Preux (11-4 MMA, 4-0 SF) has quickly learned that you must be careful what you ask for when it comes to future opponents. You never know when you just might get it.

St. Preux called out former Strikeforce champ Gegard Mousasi (31-3-2 MMA, 2-1-1 SF), and the two now meet on the Showtime-broadcast main card of Saturday’s “Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal” event, which takes place at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.

Mousasi admits he was a little surprised to be called out, but he certainly doesn’t take offense to the challenge. And St. Preux, well, he simply intends to prove to the world why he was bold enough to issue the call.

“My coach and I thought it would be a good matchup for me,” St. Preux told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “Experience-wise, he’s got it over me, but I think overall with the MMA game, I think I’ve got it. I think in all three aspects of MMA, I’m pretty good, but my athletic ability, it kind of gives me an edge up, too.”

Much has been made of St. Preux’s athletic abilities. A former linebacker at the University of Tennessee, St. Preux certainly has the physical tools to compete with anyone in the division. He brings an eight-fight winning streak to the cage, a run that includes an impressive first-round finish of Joe Cason at this past July’s Strikeforce Challengers 17 event.

Mousasi said he watched the fight and admitted he was impressed with what he saw.

“I saw his last fight,” Mousasi said. “He’s doing very well. He’s well-rounded. He’s athletic. He poses some problems, but we have a good gameplan, so hopefully it works out.”

Mousasi’s gameplan will almost certainly look to capitalize on his technical-striking abilities, and the key to execution will be to remain upright. Mousasi’s wrestling deficiencies have been exposed in Strikeforce bouts with Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Keith Jardine, but the reigning DREAM light heavyweight champ insists he’s addressed the concerns.

“A lot more time went to wrestling and fighting in a cage,” Mousasi said. “That’s a weakness that I improved, so I feel good, and hopefully I can show it in the fight.”

Mousasi is an incredible 18-1-1 in his past 20 fights, but the two blemishes on his recent mark have both come under the Strikeforce banner. Still, he’s highly respected in most MMA circles. But to be called out by a man with just three years of experience under his belt must certainly have irked him at least somewhat, right?

Mousasi says no.

“Obviously, he feels he can beat me, otherwise you wouldn’t challenge someone,” Mousasi said. “He’s an up-and-coming guy. He’s doing very well. But it doesn’t affect me. It’s just another fight.”

Maybe for Mousasi, but not for St.Preux. Decision wins over Ron “Abongo” Humphrey, Benji Radach and Antwain Britt earned the 28-year-old a “prospect” tag, but an impressive performance against Mousasi could find him in a contender’s position.

With the division currently lacking a champion, it’s not a bad place to be. St. Preux insists he’s ready.

“I definitely feel good about showing what I can do. Every fight, I’m getting better and better. Every time I’m in the gym, I’m learning new stuff. I’m still kind of new to the game, but I’m going to stick around a long time.”

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